Lid storage system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a lid storage system for storing lids that includes a rack assembly, where the rack assembly includes a plurality of racks and each rack has a substantially triangular shape. The present invention also includes a base that supports the rack assembly and each rack of the rack assembly is substantially perpendicular to the base. Each rack includes a hollow center that allows for a lid&#39;s handle to lie during storage. In one exemplary embodiment, the racks of the rack assembly have substantially equal heights.

BACKGROUND INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cooking utensil storage system andapparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Storage of cooking utensils is a daunting challenge for most householdsespecially with respect to pots, pans and lids. Various racks andhanging devises exist in order to address this problem, especially withrespect to racks used for lid storage. Lids, pots and pans need to bestored during two instances. First for later use and secondly whileactually performing cooking. Some of the prior art that has addressedapparatuses and methods for lid storage include U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,593which discloses a portable holder for the lids of cooking vessels. Theportable holder disclosed in the '593 patent includes an upstandingsupport on a base and in particular discloses the use of three supportswhere the supports are V-shaped at the upper edge. Between the V-shapedsupports retaining supports engage the base and provide a mechanism tosupport the lids in the storage position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,284 discloses a storage rack that includes a supportframe where the support frame provides storage for a number of lids. Thesupport frame of the '284 patent allows the user to store the lidseither in a vertical or horizontal position.

U.S. Patent Application No. 20070199908 discloses an apparatus forsupporting pot covers that includes a frame that is movable from acollapsed position to expanded position. The frame is rested upon a basesurface and is pivotally connected to the frame. The apparatus of the'908 patent application is specifically directed for storage of hot lidsused during cooking.

Although there are existing systems for lids storage, it would beadvantageous to provide a lid storage system that is quick, convenientand flexibly used for long term and temporary storage of lids. It wouldalso be advantageous to provide a lid storage system that includesprotection for spillage that may fall from the stored lid and have aconvenient base to receive any spillage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lid storage system for storing lidscomprising: a rack assembly wherein the rack assembly includes aplurality of racks, where each rack has a substantially triangularshape; and a base where the base supports the rack assembly and eachrack of the rack assembly is substantially perpendicular to the base.Each rack includes a hollow center that allows for a lid's handle to lieduring storage. In one exemplary embodiment, the racks of the rackassembly have substantially equal heights.

The base of the present invention may include a lip surrounding theperimeter thereof. The racks within the rack assembly may be optimallyspaced to provide room for storage and positioning. In one exemplaryembodiment, the racks may be equally spaced apart within the rackassembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prospective view of the lid storage system according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the lid storage system according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A lid storage system 10 as shown in FIG. 1 provides a unique andconvenient system to store cooking lids when they are not in use ortemporarily while cooking. The design of the lid storage system 10provides sufficient spacing for placement of cooking lids and a suitablebase to catch any spillage that may be produced once the lids are placedupon the lid storage system 10.

Components of the lid storage system 10 include a base 14 which supportsa rack assembly 12. The base 14 supports the base portion of eachrespective rack shown in the rack assembly 12. An exemplary base of theindividual racks is designated at base portion 12 c. In addition tohaving a base 12 c each individual rack includes a hollow center 12 a, atop portion 12 b and this exemplary embodiment shown to have atriangular shape. The racks within the rack assembly 12 are positionedwith optimal spacing 13 between them also shown in FIG. 1. In oneexemplary embodiment, the lid storage system 10 includes four rackswithin the rack assembly 12. The racks are substantially perpendicularto the base 14 as depicted in FIG. 2. The spacing 13 between theindividual racks of the rack assembly 12 remains substantially equal.The hollow center 12 a allows for an individual lid's handle to lie inbetween the center of the individual rack where the lid is stored at anangle in the lid storage system 10.

The base 14 includes a lip which surrounds the perimeter thereof. Thebase 14 provides an enclosure for the rack assembly and a catch basinfor spillage or condensation that may exist on the lids when they areplaced in the lid storage system 10. The rack assembly 12 has asubstantially consistent height throughout, a height designation “h” 12d is shown in FIG. 2. The height of the rack assembly is kept at anoptimal height in order to facilitate the storage of a conventionalcooking lid. Although the actual dimensions may vary based upon desiredsize and application one optimum size has been discovered throughtesting and experimentation. Specifically in one particular embodimentof the present invention, the base 14 may be sized at approximatelyeight inches by six inches wherein the five racks of the rack assembly12 are evenly spaced one inch apart. The base 14 would have a width ofsix inches and a length or depth of eight inches where the racks of therack assembly are positioned one inch apart along the eight-inch lengthof the base 14. The catch basin of the base 14 may be a quarter inch indepth to allow for the collection of fluid or drippings that may fallfrom the cooking lids stored upon the lid storage system 10. In thisparticular embodiment, the base of each individual rack would be 4½inches wide and the height of each rack would be about five inches inheight. Although these dimensions may vary upon size and variousapplications, this particular size and application has been found to beoptimal in a number of conditions.

Materials used to construct the lid storage system 10 may includestainless steel, aluminum, metal with a protective coating and/orceramic. The present invention provides a suitable system and apparatusfor the storage of cooking lids either metal or glass. The unique designof the lid storage system 10 also provides an attractive kitchenaccessory that provides a very much needed utility of storing hot lidsduring the cooking process or for storing the lids for later use.

1. A lid storage system for storing lids comprising: a. a rack assemblywherein the rack assembly includes a plurality of racks, where each rackincludes a substantially triangular shape; and b. a base where said basesupports the rack assembly and each rack of the rack assembly issubstantially perpendicular to the base.
 2. The lid storage systemaccording to claim 1, where each rack includes a hollow center.
 3. Thelid storage system according to claim 1, where the racks of the rackassembly have substantially equal heights.
 4. The lid storage systemaccording to claim 1, where the base includes a lip surrounding theperimeter thereof.
 5. The lid storage system according to claim 1, wherethe racks are optimally spaced within the rack assembly.
 6. The lidstorage system according to claim 6, where the racks are equally spacedapart.
 7. The lid storage system according to claim 7, where the racksare one inch apart.
 8. The lid storage system according to claim 1 wherethe base of each rack is four and one-half inches in length.
 9. The lidstorage system according to claim 4, where the base measures six inchesin width and eight inches in length and said lip creates a catch basinone-quarter inch in depth.
 10. The lid storage system according to claim3, where the height of the racks measures five inches.
 11. The lidstorage system according to claim 1, where the rack assembly is made ofat least one of steel, aluminum, ceramic and metal with a protectivecovering.